Rhea exhaled through her nose, a small smile playing on her lips. "When I said I needed a well-cooked meal…" she said, stretching the words with mock grandeur, "I didn't think that big-headed Alpha would actually take me seriously."
Jason chuckled under his breath. Tavian's lips twitched, trying and failing to hide his amusement.
"Now," Rhea said, picking up a spoon with a theatrical flourish, "let's dig in before it gets cold."
She dug her spoon into a bowl of creamy stew, the steam rising in lazy curls. She scooped a mix of tender meat, soft potatoes, and thick broth, the warmth blooming against her tongue. The silverware clinked softly as she moved to taste everything at once, meat, and a bit of whatever else caught her eye.
Tavian and Jason watched from their seats nervously, half-smiling, half-unsure. They still couldn't quite believe they were sitting with her.
Rhea chewed, eyes half-closed. "Damn," she said between bites. "This is good."
